Heel for boots and shoes



Aug. 20, 1946. I .F. wARb ,4 6

' HEEL FOR BOOTS AND SHOES I Fil ed Feb. 20, 1945 disadvantage.

Patented Aug. 20, 1946 Q I- i r 1' f f'HEEL iron oo'rs AND SHOES Francis Ward, Rushden, England Application February 20, 1945, serial No. 578,841

InGreat Britain February3, 1il 14 3 3 This invention'relates tofheels for boots and shoes and'concerns heels crime solid type in contradlstinction to heels of the built up type.

I .Heels of the solid type are generally moulded or otherwise fashioned from wood orothers'ubjstances. As regards wooden heels, in particular, these have a" tendency to chip or split at the ,end to whichthe top piece is applied and the prin- 'cipal object'of thisinvention is to overcomethis 1 According to the invention a plate is formed with an aperture or apertures and is fitted to the :top' piece "end of 'a solid'heel which is appropriately shaped to receive the-plate prior to the application of the top piece;

Inone embodiment of the invention the plate and heel are'so formed that the outer surface 'of the plate lies flush with the surface or surfaces of the heel formed by the shaping, the said surface or surfaces being exposed in the aperture or apertures so that when the top piece isapplied the securing slugs or nails are driven into the .heel. g i'In'an'other embodiment "there is provided a "flanged platewith an aperture or apertures there- ;in to receive the slugs or nails for securing the top piece, and the top piece end of the heel is shaped to receive the flange. In this construction the inside of the flanged plate is in facial contact with theopposing surface of the said endof the heel. I From the foregoing it will be perceived that a feature common to the two embodiments described is that the plate is secured between the heel and the top piece. l

While the attachment of the top piece may be relied upon the keep the plate in position, it is preferred to attach the plate tothe heel before the attachment of the top piece; This may be done in the first described construction by providing the plate with ahole or holes or a boss, "bosses or lugs, and inserting a screw or screws, or driving a nail or nails through the hole or holes, or boss, bosses or lugs, into the heel. It is considered that the attachment of the plate to the heel in this way strengthens the heel against splitting crosswise, especially in the case of a heel of the Louis or semi-Louis type.

The invention may be carried into practical effect in various ways, particular examples of which will now be described as applied to a wooden heel of the Louis type.

In the following further description reference will be made to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plate and 7 Claims. (cr sis-35) V 2 a the'top piece end of a heel"unatta'che'dyconsti tuting one exampleof the first described embodi merit of the invention, I t Figure 2' is a plan of the "heel viewing the top piece end with the plate applied Figure Sis a sectional elevation of a complete heel (inverted) embodying the construction shown in' Figures 1' and 2 with a top piece applied,

Figure 4 is a perspective view'of a modification, Figure 5 is a' perspective view of a plate and the top piece end of a correspondingly shaped heel unattached, v

'Figurefi is a plan of the said heel viewing the top piece end with the plate applied, j

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a complete heel (inverted) embodying the construction shown in Figures '5 and fiwith a top piece applied, and Figure '8 is a perspective view of the flanged plate (inverted) per se. Like parts are designated 'by similar reference characters throughout the drawing. I

Referring to Figures l to 3 of' thedrawing, in the example shown therein a plate I shaped to 'suitthe peripheral contour of the top piece end I of the heel a is formed with a number of apertures'2 and with a central boss 3 at the juncture of webs '4 whereby, in conjunction with'periphery 5'of the plate, the apertures are produced. -f'At the top piece end the heel w is formed with a rabbeted edge 6 and with grooves 1, corresponding with the peripheral portion and the webs 4 of the plate, thereby producing formations 8corresponding in number, size andshape with the apertures 2. Thus when the plate is applied to the heel it fits snugly thereon with the outer surface of the plate flush with the surfaces of the formations 8, as shown in Figure 3. The central boss 3 is formed with a countersunk hole 9 through which a wood screw I0 is inserted to fix the plate I in position. When the top piece H is applied the attaching slugs (one of which is represented at l2) or nails are inserted into the exposed formations 8. Inthe modification shown in Figure l the plate 1 Id -has but asingle aperture 2a and is formed with-internal lugs'3a and countersunk holes Bu for the reception of attaching screws. The top piece end of the heel to which this plate is to be attached is correspondingly formed, 1. e. it has a rabbeted edge and a single formation recessed for reception of the lugs 31; and, as in the form shown in Figures 2 and 3, the plate fits snugly on the heel with its outer surface flush with the surface of the said single formation which fills the aperture when the plate is applied.

face l8. As will be appreciated, a plate formedwith two 1 'if desired.

In theconstr-uctions Referringto Figures 5 to 8 in the example shown therein a plate [5 shaped to suit the peripheral contour of the top piece end of the heel a is formed with a flange l5a and with a number of apertures l6. At the top piece end the heel a is formed witha rabbeted edge I! to receive the flange. 'Thus when the plate is applied to the heel it fits snugly thereon with its inner faoein contact with thegysunfa'ce' 18 f the top pieceend of the: neel,' as shown in Figure 7. The plate i is formed with countersunk holes [9 V through which wood screws 2|] are inserted to fix the plate in position. When the topflpiece II is applied the attaching slugs( one of which is represented at I2) or nails are inserteddnto the Figure fi) of the sur exposed portions I80, (see 3. In combination, a solid heel, a. top piece attached to said heel by elements driven into the I end of the latter, and, between the heel and the top piece, a plate formed with at least one aperture and fitted to the top piece end of the heel which is rabbeted at the edge to receive it, said plate and top piece end being, moreover, so formed that the outermost surface of the plate lies flush with the correspondingsurface of the heel, and the plate serving to prevent the heel from splitting when the aforesaid elements are driven into it.

4. In combination, a solid heel, a top piece at- A tache'd to said heel by elements driven thereinto,

or more than three apertures may lee-provided t 4 shown in Figures 3 and fl, the heel has a covering I3, which may be of leather, fabric, Celluloid or like ,pl'iable'material, andthe edge of the covering at thetop piec'e en'd fi's' inturned over the p1ate, as'rep m d'at.

:ofvarious colours may be provided so that. when acplate is exposed as aforesaid it harmonizes or contrasts with and enhancesthe appearance of the heel.

The invention may also be appliedto heels with. acellulo'sic or other conventional finish as distinct from being covered, and. to .heels made :of. thlermo setting-.-or thermo plastic substances covered or otherwise suitably'finished' I in the caseof a. plastic. plate the latter may bestuckon to the heel. by means of et plastic or othereement, instead of or as well asbeing otherwise-secured...

':What I claim. then is:

In combination, a'solid heel. the outer end 7 ofwhich. isformed with arabbeted edge, ame'm ber shaped. as to fit within the said rabbeted edgejrf and' surround the heel, and a top. piece secured to the outer end ofwthe heel by elements driven into the latter,v the aforesaid member servingto prevent the. heel. from. splitting when theelements a-refldriven in.

- 2. In combination, .a. solidheel'theouter end ;of which is formed with a. rabbeted edge, .a .plate having therein at least oneaperture-andtslrlaped atlits periphery; so as to fit within the said rab-I 'beted edge and surround thelheel, and. a top piece. which is secured-by elementsfldriven into the heel: through the aperture the-peripheral portion: of ,the' plate serving a to, prevent-the. heel from splitting whenthe said elements are driven a plate secured between the heel and the top piece, said plate being formed with at least one apertureand fitted to the top piece end of the heel Whichis rabbeted at the edge to receive it, the plate serving to prevent the heel from splitting when the elements are driven in, and a heel covering the edge of which at the said top piece end is'intu'rned over the 'plate so'as to be secured between the latter and the. top piece.

5."In" combination, "a'solid' heel, a peripherally said plate being fitted. to the outer end orthe heel which end is formed" with a rabbeted edge to receive the flange suchwise that the innermost surface of the plate is in facial-contact with the opposing surface of the said end of the heel'and being, moreover, attached to the heel by' securing elements inserted through the aforesaid holes, and a top piece which 'isseoured byfelement's driven into the'heel through the apertures, the flanged portion or the plate surrounding the heel. and servingto prevent-the heelifromfsplitting. 3

7. In combination, a; solid heel, a peripherally flanged plate formed with apertures and holes, said plate being fitted to the outer endnof the heel which end is formed. with a rabbeted edge to receive the flange suchwise that the innermost surface of the plate is in facial. contactys iththe opposing surfaceof. the saidendofthe heel-and being, moreover attached to the heel by securing elements inserted throughthe aforesaid holes, .a

'topepiecewhichis secured by elements driven endis inturned. over the'fiange'd. plate so asto-be secured between the latter and theLtops 'pieee.

"crs 'WARD' I Y 

